The 6ft-plus teenager played in their Reserve friendly at Stalybridge Celtic last night and scored in a 4-0 victory for the Premiership outfit.

The former Wooldale Wanderers striker netted the third after ex-Holland Under 21 cap Maceo Rigters had bagged a double. Substitute Marcus Marshall scored the final goal in a comfortable win.

Denton, now with Wakefield FC in the UniBond League Division I North, was plucked out of their Under 19 side last season by manager Ronnie Glavin and thrown straight into the first team, where he scored several important goals.

He has been on trial with Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace this season and played 83 minutes of their 3-2 friendly defeat to Dagenham last week, impressing enough to spark rumours of a two-year contract offer and possible £70,000 fee.

Denton, of course, opens the batting for Shepley in the Drakes Huddersfield League Premiership, where he has 575 runs this season including five 50s.

Last season, he won the Reg Haigh Trophy as the League’s most promising young cricketer of the year.

He has previously represented the Joe Lumb Cup side and is a current member of the Drakes White Rose XI.